introduction
In 2024, the world held its breath as the 47th United States Presidential Election came to a close; resulting in the dissatisfaction for millions as Democratic candidate Kamala Harris lost to Republican electee Donald Trump and his Vice President, J.D Vance. While citizens across the globe mourned the loss of what many perceived as the last safeguard of liberal democracy in American, critics of Harris and her campaign took to highlighting the facets of her political position(s) that they believe cost her the presidency – namely, her embracing of performative, non-inclusive, neoliberal feminism.
what is neoliberal feminism?
Neoliberal feminism, defined by University of London Professor Catherine Rottenberg to “disavow the social, cultural and economic forces producing [systemic] inequality […] [and] [accepting] full responsibility for her own well-being and self-care […] predicated on crafting a felicitous work-family balance” (420). Essentially, this ideological standpoint advocates that women center their own happiness and empowerment separate from continuous historical development and collective political struggle; ignorant of the work done by disenfranchised minorities of the past, thereby reframing feminist liberation as a matter of personal choice.
representation without change
Kamala Harris’ disregard for matters of international and domestic human rights, specifically the lack of protection for queer individuals in addition to the blatant inaction taken to protect the women in Gaza, is central to gauging her position within this broader discourse. Harris, on numerous occasions, has spoken openly about her support for LGBTQIA2S+ persons – for example, stating that the dissemination of gender-affirming care was a core feature of her presidential policy. Additionally, she is a strong champion of legitimizing reproductive rights, fighting against Republican states and senators to re-establish abortion access across the country – particularly, in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturning. Her efforts to establish herself as a defender of women’s and queer rights, however, are severely undermined by the contradictions within her practice since she emerged onto America’s grander political stage. To begin, Harris has been criticized on her long-standing stance on the decriminalization of sex work, such as her work to batter online soliciting services such as Backpage, which has impacted the ability of individuals, especially transgender and BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) to work safely. Moreover, in her unwavering support for Israel, following Israel’s full-scale invasion of Gaza subsequent to Hamas’ October 7th attack, she has incited outrage in her blatant ignorance of Palestinian women as testimonies regarding sexual, emotional and physical violence against the Israeli Defense Forces began materializing. Her silence on humanitarian crises in various regions has been symbolic of her limited feminist solidarity, aligning her views almost entirely with state, thereby personal, interest rather than advocating for the protection of women abroad in addition to matters of domestic inequality.
reimagining the future
Kamala Harris’ loss of the 2024 presidency to an arguably much more regressive candidate has made shockwaves within America’s democratic community. Nearly a year into his second term, Donald Trump has worked to reverse countless reforms pertaining to the welfare of queer individuals, women and other minorities – embodying a swift, collective move towards an authoritarian, conservative national ideology. In this context, Harris’ neoliberal feminist policies stand as a warning for future democratic candidates to reexamine their approach(es) to topics of gender and social justice – encouraging future campaigns to move away from the exclusionary empowerment that the aforementioned dogma presents.